Whitstable Town begin the search for their third manager of the season to maintain their Ryman League status

WHITSTABLE TOWN begin the search for their third manager of the season as they bid to maintain their Ryman League status at the end of the season.

The Oystermen slumped to the bottom of the Ryman League Division One South table after going down to a 3-1 defeat to then basement side Chipstead on Tuesday night.

That forced chairman Gary Johnson to announce that he parted “amicably” with manager Simon Halsey after the club’s 18^th league defeat in 21 league games left the club 12 points adrift of safety.

Halsey, who replaced rookie boss and former head coach Will Graham at The Belmont in September, stood down after the defeat in Surrey.

The chairman has set a deadline of Saturday 21 November for potential candidates to apply for the post.

“Will and Simon both did their best and now we need a manager with the character, contacts and steel to lift the club, turn around our fortunes and preserve our Ryman League status,” Mr Johnson told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk. 

“Ideally, we need to hear from an experienced manager, someone with Ryman League or similar experience who has have extensive knowledge and contacts who will be able to set standards at the clubs that others will follow.

“We are a well-supported club who’ve just enjoyed two of our best ever seasons, 2013-14 when we reached the last 32 of the FA Trophy and last year when we finished eighth in Ryman South, so it is an attractive post and whoever comes in will have the full support of everyone here to quickly turn around our season.”

Applications, including a covering letter and football CV, should be sent to the Whitstable chairman at: chairman@whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

For more information any potential successor to Halsey can also call the chairman on 07957 424810.

Whitstable Town suffered five defeats and a draw in Graham’s six games in charge while Halsey was in charge for a total number of 21 games, winning four, drawing two and losing 15.

The club has not yet decided who will be in caretaker charge for Saturday’s home game against seventh-placed Three Bridges. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk